Microsoft Surface Book 3 review: The ‘ultimate laptop’ needs new ideas

The Surface Book 3 continues Microsoft’s five-year mission to create the “ultimate laptop,” nonetheless uniquely melding a pill and keyboard base that can be utilized to create, work, and recreation.

But the aim is tougher to attain in 2020 than ever earlier than. At $1,599 as much as $3,400, the Surface Book 3 is expensive. Worse, it gives little enchancment over a brand new and really robust technology of devoted laptops, from gaming machines with Nvidia’s newest RTX {hardware} to shopper gadgets optimized for excessive battery life and connectivity. Even Microsoft’s personal Surface Pro 7 supplies a superior pill expertise to the Surface Book 3’s. 

The Surface Book 3 is a unbelievable product for the do-it-all area of interest it serves. It’s simply that as laptops round it proceed to evolve and enhance, its area of interest continues to shrink.

This evaluate is a part of our ongoing roundup of the best laptops. Go there for data on competing merchandise and the way we examined them.

Surface Book 3 costs

Microsoft’s Surface Book 3 product line will likely be out there May 21, with two sizes to select from: 13.5-inch and 15-inch. The Surface Book 3 will ship with Windows 10 Home, a considerably odd selection for a laptop computer priced like a cellular workstation. A separate model, the Surface Book 3 for Business, will ship with Windows 10 Pro. 

What follows are the costs, after which the detailed specs, of each fashions.

13.5-inch:

• Core i5-1035G7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Iris Plus: $1,600
• Core i7-1065G7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1650 (Max-Q): $2,000
• Core i7-1065G7, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1650 (Max-Q): $2,500
• Core i7-1065G7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, GeForce GTX 1650 (Max-Q): $2,700

15-inch:

• Core i7-1065G7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1660Ti (Max-Q): $2,300
• Core i7-1065G7, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1660Ti (Max-Q): $2,800
• Core i7-1065G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, GeForce GTX 1660Ti (Max-Q): $3,000
• Core i7-1065G7, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD, GeForce GTX 1660Ti (Max-Q): $3,400

Microsoft gives a reduction for training and navy professionals, if you happen to purchase instantly from Microsoft. Members of the Microsoft Rewards program, at the moment in restricted beta, gives a further 7 % rebate.

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Surface Book 3 specs and options

As you may see from the specs under, we got the 15-inch Surface Book 3 with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (Max-Q) GPU choice for evaluate. The Quadro RTX is the only option if the Surface Book 3 is for use as a cellular workstation. The RTX {hardware} helps real-time ray tracing (and Microsoft’s gorgeous Minecraft RTX beta). But the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti must be a glorious selection for a shopper way of life.

• Display: 13.5-inch (3000×2000, 267 ppi) PixelSense 10-point contact; 15-inch (3240×2160, 260 ppi) PixelSense 10-point contact (as examined)
• Processor: (13.5-inch) Core i5-1035G7, Core i7-1065G7; (15-inch) Core i7-1065G7 (as examined)
• Graphics: (13.5-inch) Iris Plus, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 (Max-Q) with 4GB GDDR5; (15-inch) Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (Max-Q) w/6GB GDDR6 (as examined), Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 (Max-Q) with 6GB GDDR6
• Memory: (13.5-inch) 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB 3733MHz LPDDR4x; (15-inch) 16GB or 32GB 3733MHz LPDDR4x (as examined)
• Storage: (13.5-inch) 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe SSD; (15-inch) 256GB, 512GB (as examined), 1TB, or 2TB PCIe SSD (2TB in United States solely)
• Ports: 2 Surface Connect, 2 USB-A, 1, USB-C, SDXC, headphone jack
• Camera: User-facing: 5MP, 1080p (Windows Hello); Rear: 8MP, 1080p
• Battery: Tablet: 22.2 Wh; Base: 59.7Wh; Total: 81.9Wh
• Wireless: 802.11 ax (Wi-Fi 6); Bluetooth 5.0; Xbox Wireless (15-inch solely)
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home (as examined), Windows 10 Pro
• Dimensions (inches): (13.5-inch) 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.90 inches (13-23mm); (15-inch, Core i7) 3.5 x 9.87 x 0.90 inches (15-23mm)
• Weight: 13.5-inch is 3.38 kilos whole for Core i5, 3.62 kilos for Core i7 (pill alone is 1.59 kilos); 15-inch, Core i7 is 4.2 kilos whole (pill is 1.8 kilos)
• Color: Silver
• Price: Starting at $1,599; as examined $2,799 at Microsoft

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Surface Book 3 design and show

The Surface Book’s distinctive design continues with model 3: It folds like a standard clamshell laptop computer, or the show detaches for use as a pill. The Surface Book 3 reclines a bit lower than different laptops do, about 50 levels off of the horizontal.

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You may even mount the pill backward in “presentation mode” for others to view your display screen. Microsoft says it’s sped up detachment time to a second or two. The pill will reattach itself if you happen to don’t take away it, I observed. 

The Surface Book 3’s stunning PixelSense contact show is nearly as good as ever. It produced 496 nits of luminosity by our measurement, twice what we think about comfy for indoor work. Both “enhanced” and “sRGB” modes can be found for colour constancy in design work. 

Mark Hachman / IDG

The capability to detach the show is the Surface Book 3’s most distinctive characteristic, however not its greatest. Both the 13.5-inch and the 15-inch Surface Book 3 tablets are uncomfortably awkward to carry. Because they lack the kickstand of a Surface Pro 7, they’re good for only one factor: drawing, utilizing a Surface Pen or Surface Dial (neither included). Propping it as much as watch Netflix merely isn’t as efficient as with a Surface Pro or Surface Go. The Surface Book 3 actually works greatest as a standard clamshell PC. 

The Surface Book 3’s value suggests a robust Intel H-class Core chip could be inside, however as a result of the CPU is mounted behind the show, the superb Ice Lake U-series chips are used as an alternative. The discrete GPU (if there may be one) resides within the base. The Surface Book 3’s reminiscence, nonetheless, has been considerably upgraded from the prior technology, from 1,866MHz DDR3 to the present 3,733MHz LPDDR4.

Microsoft’s declare that the Surface Book 3 consists of its “fastest SSD ever” applies solely to the 1TB and 2TB SSDs in the most costly variations. Our evaluate unit’s quick 512GB Toshiba SSD (the identical used within the “Ice Lake” model of the Surface Laptop 3) sufficed for paperwork and some video games.

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The Surface Book 3’s connectivity is frustratingly restricted to a single USB-C with no Thunderbolt assist, the identical as within the Surface Book 2. Power and I/O are principally dealt with by the 2 legacy Surface Connect ports, solely considered one of which is uncovered to the person whereas the pill is docked. A pair of USB Type-A ports assist legacy {hardware}.

Surface Book 3 cooling

Microsoft makes use of a hybrid cooling resolution: warmth pipes throughout the pill, and followers pushing warmth out of vents throughout the base. To Microsoft’s or Intel’s credit score (or each), the Surface Book’s followers hardly ever activate. When they do, they typically push out little greater than a mild breeze—except gaming or extra intensive work is concerned, when it heightens to a robust whoosh. Part of that habits could also be as a result of default “best battery” Windows energy settings.

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Has Microsoft solved the Surface Book’s energy downside?

Microsoft has apparently solved its incapability to supply enough power to the Surface Book 2. (Because each the native charger in addition to the Surface Dock couldn’t ship sufficient energy, the Surface Book 2 was pressured to run down the battery—even whereas plugged in!—to energy the most recent video games and GPU-intensive apps.) Kicking up the Surface Book 3’s provide voltage to 127W (and launching a brand new high-power Surface Dock 2, which we have not examined) helps loads. Gaming on the built-in show, plugged in, appears to work nice.

Unfortunately, if you happen to’re the kind of one who prefers gaming on an exterior show, you’ve gotten meager decisions. A sampling of USB-C hubs I had available allowed for under 30Hz output to an exterior 4K show—not likely comfy for gaming or productiveness. The first-generation Surface Dock solves that individual show subject—it permits 4K/60 output in addition to charging the Surface Book 3 if you happen to’re not tapping the discrete GPU. But as quickly as you begin taking part in a recreation, the battery drains because the Surface Book 3 consumes its further energy. We’d count on the Surface Dock 2 to resolve each of those points, nevertheless it prices $260!

Surface Book 3: keyboard, audio and webcams

Although you most likely don’t wish to purchase a $2,000 PC for the keyboard alone, I’m satisfied that the Surface Book lineup gives the perfect of any laptop computer at this time. (Lenovo’s ThinkPad keyboards, which even have a deserved fame for high quality, are an in depth second.)

Mark Hachman / IDG

The key journey is an expensive 1.55mm (round 1.25mm is extra widespread within the business). Each key’s agency and responsive. The slight air hole afforded by the Surface Book 3’s accordion hinge permits the keys to lie flush with the keyboard deck, versus sinking them right into a slight melancholy as different laptops do. Both mix to supply the tactile phantasm that your fingers are typing on a deeper keyboard. 

Microsoft nonetheless has the odd behavior of adjusting up its operate keys amongst its completely different Surface merchandise. The keyboard backlight key’s a part of the F7 key on the Surface Pro lineup and F1 on the Surface Book. (You could wish to use the bottom of the three backlighting settings, because the illumination is kind of robust.)

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Microsoft’s glassy Precision trackpad is clickable nearly to the highest. The trackpad is spacious and affords beneficiant palm rests on the corners of the Surface Book 3.

The audio expertise differs together with the Surface Book 3 design. Laptops normally embed the audio system under the keyboard, so the sound bounces and resonates outward. Here, the audio system are mounted behind the show, so the sound is broadcast instantly at your face. 

Mark Hachman / IDG

Overall, the Surface Book 3’s audio expertise is typical. The quantity most is cheap. The excessive finish mashes collectively and turns into considerably tinny. The bass is minimal. While the audio system are Dolby Atmos-enabled, there are apparently no controls supplied to regulate the audio steadiness, however I used to be capable of obtain the Dolby Access app from the Microsoft Store. 

Microsoft now features a pair of far-field mics, most likely extra vital for videoconferencing than for activating Cortana. The Surface Book 3 labored nice throughout my Zoom or Teams calls, so it’s best to be capable to put aside your headphones when you’ve got entry to a quiet workspace.

Microsoft consists of its excellent webcams, entrance and rear, on the Surface Book 3. We skilled good readability, colour, and element on the user-facing digital camera. (There’s no sliding privateness shutter, although; here’s why.) The rear digital camera is kind of good, although it’s a bit bizarre that it is offset into the nook. 

Mark Hachman / IDG

How a lot efficiency comes for the worth? Keep studying for benchmark outcomes.